NEWS: MIXTAPE: ALTERNATIVE @ Live Theate

A Britpop special, as inventive comedic theatre springs from the lyrics of your favourite indie songs

By Simon Beckwith
on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

2015 was a great year for Mixtape, sell out shows and a hugely successful run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival saw a massive build in reputation for a show that’s part theatre, part comedy, part music, but all raucously good fun for music fans. They return to Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Friday 4th March, with their Mixtape: Alternative show, inspired by indie, Britpop and rock songs.

What follows are short comedy sketches inspired by the lyrics of selected tracks. With the running time of the sketch no longer than the song chosen, and the Mixtapers only allowed to use the words actually within the lyrics (and the occasional riffed ad-lip), it’s exciting off-the-cuff theatre, and most importantly, very entertaining. Written and performed by some of the North East’s most exciting theatre makers, this Newcastle show features local performers Steven Blackshaw, Amy Foley, Chris Foley, Lewis Jobson and Hannah Walker. The writers include Melanie Rashbrooke, Lee Mattinson (Choir, Northern Stage) and Nina Berry (Rendezvous, Live Theatre).

The atmosphere builds throughout the show, as the audience are encouraged to play along, and guess the songs and bands inspiring the sketches, all for a chance of winning a Golden Mixtape and a limited edition Brat Award. So for an indie music, Britpop special, get yourself dressed up like Jarvis Cocker, swagger in like Liam Gallagher, and soak up a very special, unique and utterly brilliant show.